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Favorites on top after 3 Chase races

Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Home Depot/Husky driver, takes the win at the SYLVANIA 300, the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Osram Sylvania/AP

Nick Wass/The Associated Press

When the Chase for the Championship started three races ago, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch were considered the odds-on favorites to win. Three races later, nothing has happened to change that.

The only drivers with three top-10 finishes in the playoffs are Kenseth, Johnson and Busch. While everyone else has stumbled at least once during the Chase, all three at the top continued to separate themselves from the rest of the field.

Heading into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at the Kansas Speedway, Kevin Harvick is fourth in the Sprint Cup Series standings and he’s already 39 points back. Based on a single point for each finishing position and based on a 43-car field, he’s almost a full race behind.

Kenseth has two victories in the Chase; Johnson has one. Kenseth leads Johnson by eight points with seven races to go, while Busch is 12 points back.

“It just confirmed what I think we’ve all been kind of feeling and thinking about, is that those guys, they’re both in a great position and in it for the long haul,” Johnson said. “My whole thought process was just how tough this championship’s going to be. They’re bringing their best and doing their best. You’ve got to deliver.”

There were plenty of reasons to make Kenseth, Johnson and Busch the favorites. They combined to win 13 of the first 26 races before the playoffs started, and together they have the most top-10 finishes.

Once the Chase started, all three seemed to take their efforts to a higher level.

“I feel like the 48’s (Johnson) always sort of been the 48,” Busch said. “He’s always been able to run way better than the other Hendrick cars. We’ll see how that plays out throughout the rest of the Chase. I don’t foresee anything changing.”

“I think once you realize your chances at a Sprint Cup are over with, it changes the feeling a little bit,” Kahne said. “We have a strong team. We’ve been one of the best cars at times throughout the whole season. Hopefully we can hit on it again these last seven races and at least finish strong and get back in the top 10. I think at this point in time that would be a successful year for where we’re at right now.”

Despite his 41-point deficit, Biffle isn’t ready to give up. He knows a big change in the standings is just a crash or engine failure away. And with seven races remaining — 2,203 laps — there certainly are opportunities for the top three to have their own problems.

The Chase, from what I understand, is made up of 10 races and to be (three) races into the Chase and say it’s a three-man race already, to me, seems silly ...,” he said.

Kenseth has a series-best seven wins this season, but he’s taking a careful approach to the final seven races. For all his success, he also has two engine failures and a crash that didn’t allow him to finish three races during the regular season. That’s why he refuses to be too confident.

“There’s so much racing to do,” he said. “I don’t know if you know who your main competition is going to be or if you’re going to be part of it when you really get down to it. There’s two months of racing to do.”